Mini won't rotate my tires until 12k
 

Hey guys,

So I've got a 2013 JCW with run flats and I just hit my 4k oil change mark. I was surprised to find out that Mini won't rotate my tires (without a charge) until the 12k mile mark.

I'm used to tire rotations at 5k like most people and wondering if this is normal, or is it worth my money and time to go to a third party shop and get them rotated at least once before then....

I plan on riding these until the end then getting some normal softer riding tires but would like to wear these as evenly as possible.

Thanks for any tips.

I do my oil changes every 5k miles and I get my tires rotated then as well.

So I wonder if Mini is setting me up for problems by following their included maintenance plan... It's weird they wouldn't include it earlier unless they have reasoning behind.

Two things I never leave to any service department are batteries and tires. Most major tire chains will warranty your existing tires for a fee and provide free rotation and balancing after that. I lost one tire already to a screw on the inside sidewall and more than got my money back when I got a free replacement. No dealer will do that for you.

This 12,000 interval surprises me, though, since most dealers want you coming back to the shop so they can try to sell you something, like another car.

If you have the space an inexpensive floor jack will serve you well. It will lift both wheels off the groud to make the swap easy. I do it every 5000 miles and use the oppotunity to wash behind the wheels and scrub the brake calipers.

New to mini's where exactly are lifting to get both wheels off the ground ?

Just behind the front wheels you will see the jack pads. Use the front one.

I do it from under the front jacking point. IIRC, the front wheel only ends up about 4" higher than the rear.

So I miss understood the situation with my service advisor. Mini is NOT recommending I wait until 12k to rotate, they just won't do it for free UNTIL my 12k included alignment. Tire services aren't covered under the maintenance plan is all.

Thanks for all the tips!

I guess that's the distinction between MINI's maintenance plan and a true service plan. Do the bare minimum but not necessarily everything you need.

Sad but true.

All the other manufacturers' free maintenance plans operate the same way - great advertising, but lousy service. I just add my own service halfway between the paid factory services.